The Commercial Directors Podcast

Directors often see the boards, the creative call, and the bid. There’s a lot of work happening on the agency side before any of that reaches us. For Episode 18 of The Commercial Directors Podcast, I spoke with Mike Davidson, head of production at Callen, about how his team approaches director searches and what they hope a director brings to the process. We covered reels, treatments, collaboration, AI, and the value of involving production earlier in creative development. One part I especially appreciated was the conversation about bringing a distinct point of view to a project while staying open to the people who have been developing it long before the director came aboard.

How do you get hired to make the kind of work you’ve never been hired to make? You make it yourself. At just 22 years old, director Bailen Estrada is already building an impressive commercial career, and spec work has played a huge role in getting him there. In Episode 17 of The Commercial Director’s Podcast, Bailen joins Evan Swinehart to talk about discovering filmmaking as a kid in the Midwest, skipping film school, moving to Los Angeles, and teaching himself the commercial directing business in real time. We dig into his HOKA and Salomon spec projects, why one great piece of work usually isn’t enough, how he strategically released his Salomon spot, and how that work eventually helped lead to representation and bigger commercial opportunities. Then we break down Bailen’s Sin City-inspired betting commercial shot in Romania. We get into green screen, practical sets, VFX, CGI, graphic-novel lighting, shooting internationally, collaborating with a Romanian crew and VFX team, and how Bailen approached building such a heavily stylized world. We also talk treatments, AI, inspiration, the awkward middle stage of building a directing career and why Bailen carries an old Russian stopwatch on set.

In Episode 16 of The Commercial Director’s Podcast, Evan sits down with director Ekta Saran for a wide-ranging conversation about creativity, craft, and building a career behind the camera. From the books, films, and directors that inspire her to the realities of commercial production, Ekta shares a thoughtful perspective on what separates good directors from great ones. The conversation explores the transition into commercial directing, the importance of problem-solving on set, developing visual taste, and why curiosity remains one of the most valuable tools a filmmaker can have. Along the way, Ekta discusses creative influences, learning through every project, balancing technical execution with storytelling, and the mindset required to keep growing in an ever-changing industry. Whether you're an aspiring director or a seasoned creative, this episode is packed with insights on finding your voice, refining your craft, and staying inspired.

In Episode 15, we sit down with commercial and feature director Alex Richanbach to break down his unconventional path from working under legends like David Fincher and Adam McKay to directing viral content at Funny or Die and high-volume commercial campaigns. We dive into: Building trust and chemistry with crews fast Directing comedy and letting performances breathe Managing chaos on high-pressure commercial shoots Why “fun” is actually a serious directing tool The evolving future of commercials vs. YouTube-style filmmaking Plus, Alex breaks down his Champs Sports campaign where talent dropped out two days before the shoot and how he adapted on the fly to still deliver. If you’re trying to level up as a director, this one is packed with real-world insight.

Episode 14 features commercial director and Just Shoot It podcast co-host Oren Kaplan. Oren shares his journey from engineer to director, how starting a podcast opened doors to industry knowledge, and why curiosity has been one of his biggest advantages. We dig into the modern state of commercial directing, from evolving treatment trends to the increasing role of AI and what it takes to stand out when competing against top-tier directors and production companies. Oren also breaks down his Rebel Wilson PSA in detail, covering: Building ideas through constraints and budget limitations Pitching with passion (and why that matters more than polish) Designing gags, transitions, and visual continuity Shooting with limited time and zero coverage Lessons from post-production and VFX mistakes We also talk about rejection, creative confidence, working with celebrity talent, and how to maintain your voice in an industry that’s constantly changing. If you’re a director, creative, or filmmaker trying to level up this one is packed with real-world insight.